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Obama will take the oath of office using the same Bible upon which President Lincoln was sworn in at his first inauguration.
AP Photo

From the transition team:

"Washington, D.C. - On January 20th, President-elect Barack Obama will take the oath of office using the same Bible upon which President Lincoln was sworn in at his first inauguration. The Bible is currently part of the collections of the Library of Congress. Though there is no constitutional requirement for the use of a Bible during the swearing-in, Presidents have traditionally used Bibles for the ceremony, choosing a volume with personal or historical significance. President-elect Obama will be the first President sworn in using the Lincoln Bible since its initial use in 1861.

'President-elect Obama is deeply honored that the Library of Congress has made the Lincoln Bible available for use during his swearing-in,' said Presidential Inaugural Committee Executive Director Emmett Beliveau. 'The President-elect is committed to holding an Inauguration that celebrates America's unity, and the use of this historic Bible will provide a powerful connection to our common past and common heritage.' "

More from the transition's release:

"The Lincoln Bible will be available for a press viewing between 11:00 AM and Noon today in the Members' Room on the first floor of the Library of Congress' Thomas Jefferson Building at 10 First St. S.E. in Washington, D.C. Video and still cameras are permitted. Media should allow 10-15 minutes to clear security at the First Street entrance to the Jefferson Building. Clark Evans, who heads the Reference Services Section of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division of the Library of Congress, will also be available at that time to answer questions about the Lincoln Bible and the Library. High-resolution photographs of the Bible are also available upon request. RSVP is not required. Please contact the PIC Communications Office with questions.

The Bible was originally purchased by William Thomas Carroll, Clerk of the Supreme Court, for use during Lincoln's swearing-in ceremony on March 4, 1861. The Lincoln family Bible, which is also in the Library of Congress's collection, was unavailable for the ceremony because it was packed away with the First Family's belongings, still en route from Springfield, IL, to their new home at the White House.

The Bible itself is bound in burgundy velvet with a gold-washed white metal rim around the three outside edges of both covers. All its edges are heavily gilded. In the center of the top cover is a shield of gold wash over white metal with the words 'Holy Bible' chased into it. The book is 15 cm long, 10 cm wide, and 4.5 cm deep when closed. The 1,280-page Bible was published in 1853 by the Oxford University Press.

Annotated in the back of the volume, along with the Seal of the Supreme Court, is the following: 'I, William Thomas Carroll, clerk of the said court do hereby certify that the preceding copy of the Holy Bible is that upon which the Honble. R. B. Taney, Chief Justice of the said Court, administered to His Excellency, Abraham Lincoln, the oath of office as President of the United States ...'

The Lincoln Inaugural Bible will be on display at the Library of Congress February 12th to May 9th, 2009, as part of an exhibition titled "With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition." The exhibit will then travel to five other American cities. The Library is planning several other events and programming in commemoration of the bicentennial of the birth of the nation's 16th president, who was born on February 12th, 1809.

On March 4, 2009, the 147th anniversary of Lincoln's first inauguration, the Library of Congress will also be convening an all-day symposium with several renowned Lincoln scholars."

And since if Senator Ted Stevens was also from Illinois or maybe the house the contracted didn't send him bills to pay were he too might not be considered "guilty" today.

It seems and even from a Hannity and Colmes show last night that we finally got to the heart of such "Illinois" issues as one guest stated something like "it is not against the law to give money to Illinois politicians and no limits on how much a person can give a politician or when or how often." Something like that.

So but for Senate rules on ethics or any laws specific to presidential elections and campaign donations like maybe even Chicago or Illinois property taxes paid maybe even for a politician by another then remembering "On The Beach" story may just be a harkening to remembering Hillary saying she "would obliterate Iran." I guess though if Rezco managed to be convicted of corruption than there is some recognition of "excess" in such region specific politic that may also fit Blagojevich, yes?

So all that talk of Obama's side yard being a political contribution by Rezco and his wife has seemingly no illegal status in Illinois like the laws governing Senator Ted Stevens, yes? Or, are there Senate laws that would have expected Senator Obama to remove himself from even the appearance of impropriety in such land dealing with an expectation that he at least buy out Rezco from remaining his adjoined neighbor of now largely spit too small for even half valuation? Are there Senate and even Presidential campaign laws that for such taxes being paid on such devalued property that still would have "ethical" reading as such taxes likely had possible annual value of greater than campaign limits? Good place here for strict Federalism arguement and interpretation that what happened in Illinois stays in Illinois' laws and lack of laws with limits on such, yes?

That Obama will use the Lincoln Bible to place his hand on as he is sworn in as president will devastate the millions of morons who are convinced he's Muslim (though I expect many will start an online rumor that he really used the Koran). I don't view Obama's Bible choice as "iconic hubris." Like many presidents before him, he is choosing the Bible used by a former US president he most admires and humbly hopes to emulate to the best of his ability. And I am hopeful and somewhat confident Obama has enough self-esteem and healthy pride to try to avoid any mistakes Lincoln may have made as president, too.

On a technical note, I hope the archivist has a serious talk with Pres. Elect Obama, Mrs. Obama and the Chief Justice to reinforce that this book is 150 years old and very delicate. If any of them have any hand lotion, Purell etc. on their hands when they touch it, a national treasure could be permanently damaged.

The moment I read the title of the story I knew I would find comments such as this. The first in the thread, no less.

I share the same view as several others on this board. That it's fitting that Obama should use the Bible used by the President he admires most to be the one he swears in on. The symbolism is powerful. The first African American President being sworn in on the Bible used by the man who signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Fitting, indeed.

and I'm sure, like Lincoln, Obama will introduce some type of legislation that will have a huge impact on the direction in which our country goes...only this time it won't be legislation which is beneficial to the country.

yes, unfortunately the campaign is over and Obama did win. I am aware of that. I am also aware of the fact that many Americans were completely UNAWARE of the policies, social ties to racially motivated preachers and domestic terrorists, and inexperience in government of Mr. Obama but still decided to vote for him based on the 'celebrity status' that was given to him by the drive-by media.